European approval for Merck’s cyanide antidote

pharmafile | November 29, 2007 | News story | Sales and Marketing  

European regulators have approved Merck Serono's cyanide poisoning cure Cyanokit for use in adults and children.

Cyanide poisoning is primarily caused by smoke inhalation during closed-space fires, but can also occur as a result of accidental or intentional ingestion and skin exposure during events like industrial accidents or terrorist attacks.

Roberto Gradnik, head of Merck Serono's European operations said: "The European approval of Cyanokit is a key milestone for emergency health care professionals. They will now have a safe and effective product to treat people immediately for cyanide poisoning, either at the scene of a fire, accident or other emergency, or at the hospital.

"We expect the availability of Cyanokit throughout Europe will have an impact on the survival and prevention of irreversible neurological injury of those who are poisoned by cyanide."

Cyanokit's active ingredient is hydroxocobalamin, a precursor of vitamin B12, which works by binding directly to cyanide ions, creating a natural form of vitamin B12 that can then be excreted.

The product's European marketing authorisation of was supported by safety data in healthy adults and efficacy data in adults and children, including data from three studies carried out in subjects who had been exposed to smoke inhalation from fires. But, due to ethical considerations, no controlled human efficacy studies have been performed.

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